What Is Nipah and What Causes It? What Animals Get Nipah Virus

Nipah

What is Nipah and what Can I get Nipah? How can I protect my animal causes it? Yes. Human illness can vary from from Nipah? Nipah (nee-pa) is a recently (1999) no signs of illness to death. Infection Nipah virus outbreaks in pigs discovered viral disease that can most commonly occurs from close have only occurred in Malaysia and affect people and animals. Severe contact with infected pigs. Initially Singapore. Since Nipah virus is newly respiratory disease, encephalitis , even flu-like symptoms, such as fever, discovered, there is still much to learn death can result. Outbreaks of Nipah headache and muscle pain, are seen. about this virus, including the way it is have only been reported in Southeast This may be followed by neurological spread and how to best prevent it. Asia (i.e., Malaysia, Singapore, India, signs such as disorientation, dizziness. The best prevention advice at this and Bangladesh). During the 1998-1999 epidemic in time is to prevent pigs from having Malaysia, 40-50% of the human cases contact with fruit bats, and to prevent What animals get Nipah resulted in death. other animals from coming into virus infection? Recent cases of Nipah virus in contact with Nipah virus-infected Pigs are the primary animal species Bangladesh, have been transmitted pigs. affected by Nipah virus. Dogs, goats, from person-to-person following cats, horses and possibly sheep can very close contact with infected How can I protect myself also be infected. The virus is thought individuals. It is thought that the from Nipah? to be maintained in nature by “flying outbreak initially started when For people, the best prevention foxes” (type of fruit bat), which show children ate fruit contaminated by the measures include avoiding contact no signs of infection. saliva and urine of fruit bats. with animals which could be infected with Nipah. You should also avoid How can my animal get Who should I contact, if I eating fruit that may have been Nipah? suspect Nipah? contaminated with saliva or urine Pigs become infected through In Animals – from fruit bats. contact or ingestion (oral) of objects Contact your veterinarian or materials contaminated by the immediately. For More Information urine, feces or saliva from infected In Humans – (carrier) flying foxes. The virus can Contact your physician CFSPH Technical Fact Sheets. Nipah at http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/ also spread between pigs by direct immediately. DiseaseInfo/default.htm contact and by aerosol. Other animal species become CDC website. Nipah Virus Disease at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/ infected by having contact with sick spb/mnpages/dispages/nipah.htm pigs or objects contaminated with Nipah the virus. a newly discovered viral disease, can affect pigs How does Nipah affect my and humans and animal? is maintained in nature by Pigs infected with Nipah virus will “flying foxes”. have rapid and difficult breathing pattern. They may also have open-mouthed breathing and a characteristic loud, harsh cough. Fever is common. The nervous system may also be affected, so signs such as trembling, muscle spasms, lameness, Photos from USDA, CDC and James Roth. and incoordination may be seen. Sudden death can occur.